BBC2’s Victoria Derbyshire has thanked viewers for their “tremendous messages to me” as she returned to work after having a mastectomy following a diagnosis for breast cancer.

She said the touching messages “mean a great deal to me” as she made her comeback wearing a navy blue top and floral-patterned skirt.

Derbyshire spoke openly about her operation, and made a video diary during her treatment, which was broadcast on her BBC show before her return.

In her video diary, viewers saw her in hospital bed holding a sign saying: “Hi. This morning I had breast cancer.”

A second picture showed her smiling brightly with another board which reads: “This evening I don’t!”

The former Newsnight and BBC Radio 5 Live presenter said in the footage: “The reason I wanted to talk about what has happened to me is that I am a pretty open person. But also because more than one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer. And here’s the thing: having cancer is manageable.

“Having a mastectomy is totally do-able. I didn’t know that until I got cancer. And that’s what I want to tell people. I know everyone is different, and has different experiences. This is mine. And I hope you don’t mind me sharing that with you.”